Nostalgia offers a pleasant escape from current worries, and it's easy to appreciate memories of earlier times—music, fashion, entertainment, even past relationships. Director Chris Columbus’s comedy ‘Pixels’ attempts to tap into the nostalgia for classic video games, but the result is a tepid film that feels like an inferior imitation of ‘Ghostbusters,’ borrowing heavily from that iconic 80s movie. It lacks originality and any real spark or imagination, coming across as a pale copy with little substance. This latest Adam Sandler-led effort practically demands the familiar message shown at the end of video games: Game Over! ‘Pixels’ struggles because it doesn't seem to aim for anything truly remarkable beyond its special effects. There are occasional moments that elicit a chuckle, but mostly the movie suffers from underdeveloped characters overshadowed by chaotic action sequences. The good news is that ‘Pixels’ isn’t as irritating as some of Sandler’s other films. However, it’s not exactly a glowing endorsement either. Screenwriters Tim Herlihy and Timothy Dowling manage to include enough references to the video game craze of the 80s, which baby-boomers—and surprisingly youngsters too—might find amusing. Combining sentimental feelings about video games with the popular disaster movie genre is challenging, but ‘Pixels’ simply doesn't have the necessary energy or cleverness to pull it off. Many remember spending hours in arcades, honing their gaming skills. We are introduced to a group of former (or perhaps current) gamers who were quite skilled back in the day. Leading this group is Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler), a slacker who hasn't achieved much since placing second at the 1982 World Videogame Championship. Eddie ‘The Fire Blaster’ Plant (Peter Dinklage) won that competition, defeating Sam. Joining them is game expert and conspiracy theorist Ludlow Lamonsoff (Josh Gad). Their friend Will Cooper (Sandler’s comedy partner Kevin James), happens to be the President of the United States. How convenient! These video-game experts find themselves needed when a recording from that old competition, recovered from space by aliens, triggers an invasion. The aliens are offended by the recording and now want to challenge Earth for ownership of the planet. Can Sam, Eddie, and Ludlow use their gaming skills to outwit, outplay, and ultimately defeat the aliens in this high-stakes game? Some may consider ‘Pixels’ a quirky comedy with its own unique appeal. It does have some amusing moments, but overall it feels disjointed. The idea of these former gamers returning to glory to save humanity through their hobby seems forced and clumsy. There's nothing original about ‘Pixels,’ other than being a knock-off of ‘Ghostbusters’ with video game branding—like the giant Pac-Man eating its way through a city. It feels like it was written purely for cheap laughs. Sandler, while not as grating as in some of his previous movies, seems to be going through the motions in his role as Sam, seeking a chance at redemption. Michelle Monaghan, playing Sam’s girlfriend Violet van Patten, provides a reminder that even people who enjoy video games can find happiness. The relationship between Violet and Sam, and Cooper's friendship with Sam, are probably the most humorous aspects of ‘Pixels.’ Gad is inconsistent as Ludlow, who often talks about his pixel princess Lady Lisa (Ashley Benson). Dinklage steals scenes as Eddie, a confident competitor despite his small stature. Bill Murray and the cast of ‘Ghostbusters’ don’t need to worry about being upstaged by Sandler and company in this slight and forgettable comedy. It might be better to do laundry than play a life-or-death game of ‘Donkey Kong’ with these video game vagabonds. Pixels (2015) Sony Pictures 1 hr. 45 mins. Starring: Adam Sandler, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, Kevin James, Brian Cox, Matt Linz and Sean Bean Directed by: Chris Columbus MPAA Rating: PG-13 Genre: Comedy/Fantasy/Video Game Action & Adventure Critic’s Rating: * 1/2 stars (out of 4 stars)

Source on TMDB